The things we give up as parents

I remember the days before I got married. The days that I lived with 3 other girls and we came and did as we pleased when we pleased. I didn't have to answer to anyone and nobody had to answer to me. This was a true sense of freedom. I gladly gave up this freedom to marry Jake 4 years ago. Things didn't change much. I was still able to do as I pleased but now I was often with the person I wanted to do things with. What a concept, living with your best friend! It was awsome living in California. Jake and I got to hang out with friends, go to amusement parks, and then we just got to go home together. I didn't ever have to say goodbye. And then......... Tylie enters the scene. Today was Jake's birthday and Tylie and I made him a cake as we usually do. Tylie seemed to struggle with this birthday though. It has been 3 months since tylie's birthday but she still thinks that anytime cake and balloons are present, it is HER birthday again. She couldn't comprehend that Jake could have a birthday to. She kept telling me it was her birthday and she would sporadically break out singing "Happy Birthday" to herself. When it came to cake time I kept trying to tell her that it was daddy's cake and not hers. But, my husband being the wonderful father that he is, lifted her up on his lap and let her blow out all of his candles. Tylie has taken over everything and nothing is our own anymore. Not even something as personal as a birthday is ours anymore. But I can, on the other hand, think of numerous times that we lie there and talk about all the funny and cute things that tylie did that day. I can't imagine our life without that crazy little girl. It is true that she turned our world upside down the day that she came into this world. She changed us individually as well as a couple. But I have never regretted a day of it. Tylie will continue to take everything that we have and we will continue to gladly give her all we got. It seems strange that as a human I can give everything I have and never feel resentment towards her. It is times like this that I recognize Heavenly Father in my life. Only divinity can cause parents to feel the way they do towards their children!